Wood tank construction



Feb. 21, 1939. s. RAYMOND ET AL 2,147,952 I WOOD TANK CONS TRUCTIONFiled Aug. 29, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Gwyn/re fay/0004.

Lee E. an BY ATTohNEY Feb. 21, 1939. G RAYMOND ET AL 2,147,952

WOOD TANK CONS TRUCTI ON Filed Aug. 29, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 2 NHHKKMHIIHI N A 7 2 E AT ORNEY INVE TORS Gwynne ay/rzand a? 5 es 5 an G. RAYMONDET AL 7, 52

WOOD TANK CONSTRUCTION Feb. 21, 1939.

Filed Aug. 29, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORs Gwynne Ray/0000f Lee E,)fzun Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES FATENT oFFlcE WOOD TANKCONSTRUCTION of Maine Application August 29, 1936, Serial No. 98,526

4 Claims.

This invention relates to tanks and similar containers particularlyconstructed of wood staves bound together with hoops. When a containerof this character is full of liquid the wood swells and the jointsbecome tight but when the staves dry out, as they do when the liquid islow, the wood shrinks and the joints open with the result that the tankleaks. This shrinkage requires frequent tightening of the hoops and -1Ooccasional coopering in order that the tank may be kept in serviceablecondition. This difficulty is especially troublesome during long seasonsof drouth and high temperature. In cases where an ample water supply isavailable, such tanks may be kept serviceable by running a stream ofinterior grooves or passages incorporated in construction of thecontainer.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a simple andinexpensive construction forming the channels and passageways so thatthe cost of the tank is not increased materially over that of anordinary wooden container.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide aconservative supply of liquid for automatically retaining the channelsand passageways in filled condition.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, ashereinafter pointed out, we have provided improved details of structure,the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accomww panyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a container, such as an oil storagetank, embodying the features of the present invention, a portion of theside wall being broken away to illustrate the channels or passagewaysfor containing the permeating liquid.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tank, a part of the head or deck and wallbeing shown in section to better illustrate the channels or passagei 50Ways for the permeating liquid,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section through the deck of the tank,particularly-illustrating the connection between the storage receptaclecarrying the permeating liquidand the tank pasa sageways.

Fig. 4 is a detail section through a portion of the side wall of thetank particularly illustrating the inlet connection wherethrough thepassageways and storage receptacle are filled with permeating liquid. 5

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the stavescomposing the side wall of the tank.

Fig. 6 is a section through the stave on the line 6fi of Fig. 5illustrating a transverse bore 10 therein which cooperates with similarbores in the other staves to form an annular passageway connecting thevertical ways in the sides of the staves.

Fig. '2 is an enlarged detail view through the 15 upper portion of thetank particularly illustrating the connection of the horizontal groovesin the deck with the vertical grooves in the sides of the staves throughan annular passageway formed in the croze of the staves. 20

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of one end of one of the deck boards partof which is broken away to illustrate one of the transverse grooves.

Referring more in detail to the drawings: '25

I designates a tank, or container, such as used in oil fields forstoring oils or other liquids which are ordinarily corrosive to metalstructures. For this reason the tank is constructed of wood and includesan annular wallv formed of a plurality of vertical staves 2 and havingcro-ze grooves 3 and 4 at their upper and lower ends to engage theperipheral edges of the tank deck and bottom 5 and 6 respectively. r

The deck 5 and bottom 6 are circular disks formed of juxtaposed boards 1arranged in edge to edge contact and having their ends extending intothe croze grooves. The wooden parts thus described are bound together byhoops 8 encircling the wall of the tank as in conventional Wooden tankconstruction. The tank decks are also usually reinforced by suitabletransverse beams 53, It and ll as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the decksare braced by internal shoring (not shown).

Tanks constructed as above described are kept liquid-tight by cooperingand tightening the hoop-s, however, when the tank is used in hot, aridclimates the Wood is subject to so much shrinkage that it is difficultto keep the tank from leaking.

In accordance with the present invention we construct the tank with aseries of channels or passageways that are kept full of liquid to;

permeate the wood and prevent shrinkage as now to be described.

An abutting edge l2 of each stave is provided with a longitudinal groovel3 at a point substantially midway between the inner and outer faces l4and I5 of the staves. The grooves l3 do not extend the entire length ofthe staves but the upper ends it terminate in substantial alignment withthe upper edges of the croze grooves 3 while the lower ends I! terminatea short distance above the lower croze grooves 4, as clearly shown inFig. 5.

Extending transversely through the staves from the edge faces 2 to theopposite edges at the lower terminals of the grooves I3 are horizontalbores l8 which cooperate to form an annular passageway I9 completelyencircling the tank and which forms a manifold connected with the lowerends of all of the grooves l3. The croze grooves 3 at the upper ends ofthe staves are provided with counter grooves or ways 25 that are cut inthe bottom faces thereof and of less width to provide stop shoulders onthe respective sides of the croze grooves to be engaged by theperipheral edge of the deck 5, as shown in Fig. 5. The staves at theends of the counter grooves 20 are notched as at 2|, on the edges havingthe vertical grooves l3, to provide communication between the verticalgrooves l3 and the counter grooves 20. The counter groove 25 of onestave cooperates with the counter groove of the other staves to form anupper annular passage 22 extending completely around the tank within theplanes of the inner and outer surfaces of the upper deck to form amanifold interconnecting the upper ends of all of the vertical groovesI3.

The boards 1 composing the upper deck also have one of their side edges23 provided with a longitudinal groove 24 having the ends thereofcommunicating with the counter grooves 20. The grooves 24 are alsointerconnected by means of transverse bores 25 and 2! extendingtransversely through the boards, as best shown in Figs. 2 and '7, thetransverse bores being located in registering alignment and in the planeof the horizontal grooves 24 to provide cross channels connecting all ofthe grooves 24.

When the staves are assembled in the form of a tank, the smooth sideedge 28 of one stave closes the open side of the grooves l3 to formclosed channels. Likewise the smooth side edges 29 of the boardscomprising the upper deck cover the open sides of the grooves 24 to formclosed horizontal channels for containing a permeating liquid. such aswater, that is admitted to the passageways through an inlet fitting 35carried in one of the staves and intersecting the horizontal bore [8thereof.

The inlet fitting is pressed into an opening 3| extending through theface sides of one of the staves, as best shown in Fig. 4, and has a head32 on its inner end that forms an annular stop shoulder 33 adapted tosealingly engage against the inner face of the stave. The opposite end34 of the fitting projects from the outer face of the stave and carriesa washer 35 sleeved thereover and retained in sealing engagement withthe tank by means of a nut 36 threaded on the projecting end of thefitting and having a feathered edge 31 wedgingly engaging in a groove 38formed between the fitting and the inner diameter of the washer, as bestshown in Fig. 4. When the nut 36 is tightened the head and Washer of thefitting are drawn into sealing contact with the inner and outer faces ofthe stave.

The sleeve portion of the fitting is provided at its projecting end withinternal threads 39 to mount a nipple 40 carrying a valve 4| adapted tobe opened and closed by a hand wheel 42. The opposite side of the valveis connected with a supply pipe 43 by which the passageways or channelsof the tank are filled with liquid when the valve is opened as laterdescribed.

The opposite side of the fitting is also internally threaded to receivea plug 44. The outer periphery of the tube portion of the fitting whichextends through the opening 3| is provided with an annular recess 45forming an annular passageway connecting the horizontal circumferentialpassageway with openings 46 formed in the wall of the fitting so thatthe liquid admitted through the valve may flow through the opening 45and around the recess 45 into the passageway l9.

Mounted on the cross beams of the upper deck, at a point adjacent oneend thereof, are spaced cross sills 41 and 48 for supporting a storagereceptacle 49. The storage receptacle 49 is shown of cylindrical formand has its lower end provided with angle shaped legs 50 which aresecured to the cross sills 41 and 48 by bolts 5|. The I receptacle 49includes a cylindrical wall 52 having a closed bottom 53 and an open topnormally closed by a cover 54, the cover being provided with an air hole55 through which air may pass into and out of the receptacle with therise and fall of the liquid therein.

The receptacle 49 is provided with an outlet fitting 55 that isconnected with a tubular fitting 51 identical to the tubular fittingpreviously described, and which is pressed into an opening 58 that isformed in transverse axial relation with one of the horizontal grooves24 as best shown in Fig. 3. The projecting threaded end of the fittingextends from the upper face of the deck and connects with a nipple 59,having an L 60 carrying a nipple 5|. The nipple 6| also has an L 62 onits opposite end that connects with a horizontal pipe 63 having an L 64carrying a nipple 65 connected with an L 66 on a pipe 6! that connectswith the receptacle fitting 56 through a union 68. The elbow connectionsbetween the pipes and nipples provide for expansion and contraction andfacilitate connection of the receptacle 49.

Attention is here directed to the fact that since water will not soakfar into the fibres of wood, the staves composing the side wall and theboards comprising the upper deck are made relatively narrow so thatwater contained in the respective passageways may permeate entirelythrough the wood. The roof deck of the tank may be provided with anexpansion dome and thief hole 69 and respectively.

The tank, after being assembled, preferably has its roof deck coveredwith a layer of insulation H such as sand, gravel, dirt or the like, soas to prevent excessive evaporation of the water contained in thepassageways therein.

In filling the passageways of a tank constructed and assembled asdescribed, the valve 4| is opened to allow fiow of liquid under pressureinto the inlet fitting 30 and through the ports 46 and into the annularpassageway 19 formed at the lower ends of the staves. The water will bedistributed uniformly to all of the vertical passageways l3 and willrise therein to flow into the annular passageway formed at the bottom ofthe usual croze grooves 3. From this passageway the water will bedistributed to the transverse passages 24 and through the intersectingbores 26 and 2'! to fill all of the grooves. The water will then flowthrough the fitting 51' and from the fitting to the storage receptacle49. During filling of the system the air therein is pushed ahead of thewater and discharged through the opening in the cover 54 of thereceptacle. When the system, including the receptacle 49, is filled, thevalve 4| is closed.

The water contained in the channels or passageways is absorbed by thepores of the wood toefiect swelling of the Wood staves and deck boardsfor maintaining the joints of the tank in tight condition. As the liquidpermeates into the wood the hydraulic pressure contained in the supplytank keeps the passageways in filled condition. When the storagereceptacle becomes empty it may be refilled by opening of the valve 4|,as previously described.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that we have provided a tank having apassageway system for containing permeating liquid which is of simpleand inexpensive construction and that adequately supplies the permeatingliquid to all parts of the tank which are subject to shrinkageincidental to dry and arid conditions surrounding the tank.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wood tank including a side wall formed of staves each having crozesformed across its inner face adjacent the ends thereof, a grooveextending in one edge from the upper croze toward the lower croze forforming vertical passageways between the respective staves, and acounter groove formed in the bottom of the upper croze and havingconnection with the edge groove; deck and bottom members engaged in saidcrozes with the peripheral edge of the deck member closing the crozeside of the counter grooves whereby the counter grooves cooperate toform an annular passageway encircling the tank circumferentially of theupper crozes through which the vertical passageways are supplied with apermeating liquid, and means for supplying a permeating liquid to thepassageways.

2. A wood tank including a side wall formed of staves each having crozesformed across its inner face adjacent the ends thereof, a grooveextending in one edge from the upper croze toward the lower croze forforming vertical passageways between the respective staves, and acounter groove formed in the bottom of the upper croze and havingconnection with the edge groove; deck and bottom members engaged in saidcrozes with the peripheral edge of the deck member closing the crozeside of the counter grooves whereby the counter grooves cooperate toform an annular passageway encircling the tank circumferentially of theupper crozes through which the vertical passageways are supplied with apermeating liquid, said staves having transverse bores connected withthe lower ends of the vertical passageways, and means for supplying apermeating liquid to said passageways.

3. A wood tank including a side wall formed of staves each having crozesformed across its inner face adjacent the ends thereof, a grooveextending in one edge from the upper croze toward the lower croze forforming vertical passageways between the respective staves, and acounter groove formed in the bottom of the upper croze of less widththan said croze to form a stop shoulder, said counter grooves beingconnected with the edge groove; deck and bottom members engaged in saidcrozes with the peripheral edge of the deck member abutting against thestop shoulder to close the croze side of said counter grooves wherebysaid counter grooves form an annular passageway encircling the tankcircumferentially of the upper crozes through which a permeating liquidis supplied to the vertical passageways for permeating said staves; andmeans for supplying a permeating liquid to the annular passageway.

4. A wood tank including a side wall formed of staveseach having crozesformed across its inner face adjacent the ends thereof, a grooveextending in one edge from the upper croze to ward the lower croze forforming vertical passageways between the respective staves, and acounter groove formed in the bottom of the upper croze of less widththan said croze to form a stop shoulder, said counter grooves beingconnected with the edge groove; deck and bottom members engaged in saidcrozes with the peripheral edge of the deck member abutting against thestop shoulder to close the croze side of said counter grooves wherebysaid counter grooves form an annular passageway encircling the tankcircumferentially of the upper crozes through which a permeating liquidis supplied to the vertical passageways for permeating said staves, saiddeck member being formed of a plurality of staves each having an edgegroove extending longitudinally thereof and registering at the ends withthe counter grooves to form passageways connected with the annularpassageways; and means supplying a permeating liquid to saidpassageways.

GWYNNE RAYMOND. LEE E. YOUNG.

